Steel body for automobiles



Jan., 6. E925.

J1. LEDWsNKA STEEL BODY FOR AUTOMOBILEs l l0 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. e, 1919 WW mma a m25. Lzm@ J. LEDWINKA STEEL BODY FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Nov. 6,. 1919 1o sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY LZW J, LEDWINKA STEEL BODY FOR AUTOMOBILES FledNov, 6, 1913 l0 Sheecs-Sheewl 5 ATTORNEY JmL 5, E925.

J. LEDWINKA STEEL BODY FOR AUTOMOBILES 10 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Nov. e, 1,91@

INVEN'OR L BY o l ab( MW ff ATTORNEY jagh 6.1925. 1,522,254)

J. LEDWINKA STEEL BODY FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Nov. a. 1919 1o sheets-sheet s i sNvENToR www@ ATTO 'N EYt jm, 6. 11925.- l,522,250

J. LEDWINKA STEEL Bom FOR AUTOMOBILES Fi1edNov.-e, 1919 1o sheets-sheet s l 06a f J. LEDWINKA STEEL BODY FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed NOV. 6. 1919 l0 Sheets-Sheet '7 ATTORNEY LSZZS@ lO Sheets-Silea?, 8

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J. L EDWINKA STEEL B'ODY FOR AUTOMO-BILES Filed Nov. 6) 1919 J. LEDWINKA STEEL BODY FOR AUTOMOBILES l0 Sheets-Sheet y9 Filed Nov. e. 191g um 6. i925.

J. LEDWINKA STEEL BpDY FOR AUTOMOBILES v Filed N09.

l10 Sheets-Sheet l0 I VEN'TO Patented dan. i925.

JOSEEH LEDWINKA., OF PHILDELBHIA, PENNSYLVAIA, ASSIGNQR TO EDWARD G.

BUDI) MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OIE' PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PHILADELPHIA., PnNNsYLvANrA, 'A co1.-

STEIEL BGDY FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed November 6, 1919. Serial No. 336.059.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH LEDWINKA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have made a certain new and useful'lnvention in Steel Bodies for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automobile bodies, and particularly structures of this class built up of sheet steel stamped or otherwise formed into the desired shape and contour and secured together to make up the complete body.

The object of the invention is to provide a structure of sheet steel autoinobilebody which is simple, strong and rugged, and which can be easily, quickly and economi-- cally inanufacured.

A further object is to provide a tonneau body panel having means formed therein to support the seat.

A further object is to provide a novel construction for the vertica 'front edges of the tonneau which shall .be particularly strong and rigid and provide an eiiicient support for the side door.

A further object is to provide a front seat panel having integral vertical front edge extensions of channel formation to form eilicient front door posts. y

A. further object is to provide a rear vertical edge structure of cowl panel to rorm an eiiicient door post.

.A further object is to provide a door hinge support structure in the door posts of such arrangement as to afford a brace' for the post structure.

A further obl'ect is to provide means for reinforcingan stiiening the upper edge of the tonneau panel'.

A further .ob'ect 1s to provide a body structure in w ich interior-ly extending door posts are avoided, thereby increasing the licor space or area in the interior of the body.

A further object is to provide a single seli` contained sheet metal body structure which includes, contains and combines these several advantageous features -in a unitary stru cture.

Other ob'ects 'of the invention will appear more ully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location, and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawof tonneau panel shown in Figs. 2 and 3.'

Fig. 5 is a broken detail/view in vertical transverse section on the line 5, 5. Fig. 2.

Fig. 5A is a View, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of the portion of the body at the rear lower corner of one lof the rear door openings, showing the connection between the tonneau panel, the brace, 57, and the bod sill, 61.

Fig. 6 is a view in ront elevation of the heel board at the front'edge of the rear seat, parts broken ott, and parts of the tonneau panel and ooring in vertical transverse section.-

Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation ofi the front seat portion of an automobile body embodying my invention. l

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of the front seat panel.

Fig. 9 is a vievs in vertical section through the front seat panel.

Fig. 10 is a view in horizontal section on the line A, A, Fig. 8, of the front seat panel showing the integral vertical front edge channels to Jform door posts.

Fig. l1 is aA View in front elevation of a. portion of the front seat panel.

Fig. 12 isa top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 11.

'Fig 13 is a View in portion of the front seat heel board.

; Fig. 14 isa' view in side,A s'tructuresliown in Figulfi Fig. 15 isv a top plan viewl of the same..

Fig. 1G is a detached detail View in per spec-tive of a reinforcing member or corner elevation of the front elevation of a thereof the latter', or the frontwall of said auxiliary depression, constitutes a heel board for the rear seat .of the body, this panel 63 being vformed with a. shoulder (Si adjacent its upper edge upon which the trout edge of the seat pan is supported. Forward of the shoulder 6st the heel board panel 63 is' i'langed upwardly as at 65 to extend slightly above the seat pan to forni a ledge 'or retaining the seat cushion in place. The heel boeard 63, if desired, may be formed with a depression 67 in the vertical face thereof, as shown in F ig. 6, in order to stiii'en the. same. The lower edge of the body panel is iianged infwardly, sce Fig. 5 as indicated at (i8, to torni a support for the edge of a lioor panel 69..

enable the structure to take the shocks and stresses usually imposed on door posts. These bracket members, however, extend partway towards the top edge of the tonneau panel, and they do not extend substantially into the interior space of the tonneau as is the ease with the usual door post structures. The result is that I am enabled to increase the interior area of the tonneau, making the saine large and -rooinyr Without increasing the transverse dimension oit the body.

The front seat panel or stamping is indicated generally at 66, Figs. 7, S, ll and l2, and is suitably shaped and formed into the desired contour. In practice I prefer to forni this panel in two sections 7l and', see Figs. 7 and 8, suitably joined together at their adjacent edges as indicated at 73. ily this structure one of the portions 7l, 72, ot' said panel, ina-y be of thicker and heavier material than the other, thereby securing strength and rigidity. in practice the upper portion T2 is made thicker than the lower portion for this purpose. The upper edge of the panel 66 is flanged inwardly as indicated at 74, as is likewise the. upper edgeo't the tonneau panel 50, and an angle strip is applied to the inturned flange T41, thus forming a. channel along the tippen edge of the panels 50, 6G, to ati'ord means for securing suitable' cushions or upholstery.

The ends of the front seat panel 66 are pressed into channel 'forni with the open side presenting inwardly as .indicatedat T6, see. Fig. l0, thus forming the door posts integrally with. the panel.

it desired, suitable depressions 78, may heiiornicd in the iront seat panel 66 or the r i-r portion thereoil to stiften the saine, and, desired, the depression 7? .may be ein ployed to receive the robe ra/il supports. To this end the depression 77 is formed horizontally across the' back of the front seat. 'panel and is enlarged at its ends as indicated at 79, Fig. il, robe rail supporting brackets of the usual character (not shown), Vbeing received in these enlarged depressions 79. At its lower edge the iront seat panel is foi-ined with a rearwardly extending flange 80 to be secured to any suitable cross brace of the frame. Extending vtransversely across the frontV seat pane-l is the frontl seat heel board indicated atl 82, see Figs. 7, 13, lei. 1f desired, the side portions of heel board 82 may be forinedwith central depressions on their outer faces as indicated at 83, see'Fig'. 14, for stiit'ening purposes. in the forni shown, to which, however, my invention is not tube limited, the front seat heel board, 82, has its ends extending rearwardly to 'forni the side vportions of the heel board, as shown in Figs. 7 and la. A laterally extending flange, 86, is formed at theupper edge ot' this heel board to support the front seat pan, S, and the retainer strip, 121, i'or the iront seat cushion, shown in Figs. QG, :27, and 28, is secured in anysuit able manner to the flange 86.

The iront seat pan indicated at S-l, Fig. is supported at its rear edge upon a. stamping 85 and at 'its front edge upon a shoulder S6 formed at the upper edge of the heel board 8:2, the latter, ii desired, being formed with a depression ST for stilllening purposes.

Suitably mounted within the door posts TG are blocks 8S which serve the double purpose of bracing the Cl1annellbrn1ed along the vertical edges of the 'trout door panel to constitute the door post and also to receive and support the pivot arms Si) oi' the rear door 90, see Figs. and 24. A stamping Sil is applied to the inner open edge ot the channel post to iorin a hinge house to enclose the hinge structure for/the rear door. The front door 92 closes upon the forward outer corner of the` channel door post. It desired, a border strip 93 of angle shape in cross section, see Figs. 21, 24, 29 and 31 is applied to the forward flat side of the front seat panel or rather to the front fiatv side of the channel 'formed in the front vertical edge of the front seat the inturned'lilange 9i ot' the body panel portion 95 to, ioz'in a threshold strip. The body panel portion 95 Ais flanged 'inwardly as at 96 and then upwardly as at 9T over the i'ianie silll and then is inturned as at 98 to torni la shoulder upon whichrests the lfloor board 99, see Figs. 2l and 22.

in Fig. O l have shown the cowl. panel l0() which is formed with an inturned flange 101 at its forward edge. ".lo this flange 'is secured a sheet steel panel OQ. To this panel, and this border strip extends overv wassen' panel 102 is secured the forward end of a bracket 103. The rear end of this bracket has attached thereto a bracket stamping 104 `which embraces the Windshield, stanchion 105, said stanchion extending vertically through the seating formed in the stamping 104: and being clampecl thereto by means of a nut 10G. The cowl stamping 1G() also embraces the windshield stanchion 105 and reinforcing' angle plates 107 serve to reinforce the connection between the cowl stamping yantl the Winslncld stancluon and that part of the cowl beneath the lower 4edge o the windshield. A stamping 108' is flanged at 'its upper edge to fit between therear edge of the cowl stamping and the reinforcing angle vplates 101'. This plate 108 extends transversely across the body and is attached by means of angle platesvlOQ to an angle shaped stamping 111 constituting a door post cap at the rear vertical 'edge Orf the cowl and to which the inturnel flange 112 of the cowl stamping is secured. The panel 108 constitutes the instrument board on which are mounted the usual indicators, clock, lighting` and starting switches, etc.

The iuaekct'staniping 104 is secured to a vertical inturrietl'liange 110 of the angle post 111. l"

lt will appear feorn the foregoing that the braces. one at cach vside of the cowl made up of the brackets 103 and 10i, serve atlouble function in that they brace the oon'l longitudinally and serve as supports or anchors for the windshield stanchions.r

in connection with Fig. 22 have ticscribcrl the 'Hooi-ing 99 as testing-upon .a flange 98 of the portion 95 of theborly stampiamo.

The door sill strip 93 in this L:arrangenient forms an abutment against which the outer edge of the. flooring 99 abuts/ lil desired, lio-Wever, this abutment may be iibrrnecl by offsetting' allungo portion lllofthe floor sill or strip 119,l as seen in Fig. 43, and.

the floor board 113 rests at its edge upon' the depressed or ofset flange 112 ami abuts against the shoulder formed thereby and. also rests upon the flange 98.

The forni of `door strip 93 is shown more i in detail in Figs/ 29, 30 and 31. Thisis simply a stamping; lfshapecl 1n cross section, having preferably a rounded outerl edge ,as at 118, and Jformed in generally rec tangular shi/ipc to fit the vfront door 'opening. The door strip for 4the rear door openn ing is shown at 115), sec Figs. 32, 33 34, The vertical portions of this strip are prelerablv of l..shape in cross section, see Fig. .iitb.- a .rounilecl outer edge 120. The horizontal portion oi' the border strip 119 is likewise formeel with a rounded outer edge 120, but instead of being Lsluipe it is' formeel with a Vdepressed flange 112, see Figs. 34 anni 43.

Suitably mount-ed. within the cowl is theusual toeboard. vThe toe board is-vsnitably supporte at its ends upon supporting staxnpings 122.. toe board vsupporting stamping is applied inside the cowl panel at 70 opposite sitles thereof, and is formed with the usuel inclined snrface against which the emls oit thetoe board are supportedin the usual inclined relation. From the foregoing description it Will be seen that l provide standard stamping for the various parts gw ing to make upv a complete sheet steel body for automobiles. .These stainpings are made of standard sizes and produced rapidly in quantities. The various stanipings orin- 39 ing thc complete body are then assembled and Welded ror otherwise secured together, thus forming an integral homogeneous co1npletecl botly in which the various parts or stamping brace yeach other, thus forming 'ge an exceedingly strong and rugged structure and enabling' ine to produce `sheet. steel bodies rapidlyimatl. economically antl of all steel stalnpings.

Having now set fort-.h the objects anal na D ture ot' my invention and a construction einbodying the principles thereof, what l clairn new and useful and of my own invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

1. in a sheet metal automobile structure, a stamping shaped to form the side and back portions ot' a` scat, the side portions of said stamping; having inwardly pressed portions forming ledges or -shfiulclers to supporta seat pan, and a vertically clispo'scii mi.

heel board at the front. edge of said seat secured at itscnels to said inwardly pressed portions of the stamping. A

2. lo a sheet steel structure for antoine-- bile bodies, a sheet steel stamping shaped to conform to the contour and. outline of 'the hotly, and having a rlepressecl portion iin lthe sille thereof to form a Wheel housing` and zin-auxiliary depression stamped in the wheel housing; to form ascst support 3. 1n a sheet 'steel structure tor automobile bodies, a sheet steel stamping shapefl to conform to the tontour and outline ot theY body. and having a` tlepressed portion' in the'side thereof projecting into the interior H5 of the body toforxn 'e letlgecr shoulcler to receive a seat pan. Y

Ll. ln a sheet metal hotly striuztureV for automobiles, a 4panel curved to torna thek sides and back of a scat, a reinforcing meuf we ber having a vertically-extening; portion,a` longituilimolly-attending ,portion ani s transversely-extending portion'"seiel verti cavlly-e-:tencling portion being secure to .ny vertical front edge ot said panel, a bocly '125 sill connected to said longitutlinaliyextening portion, and a crossnieinber connectecl to said transverselyextending portion.

5. ln a sheet metal hotly structure automobiles, e panel eurvecl to contorni. to lee the body curvature and forming the sides and baclr. of a seat, a reinforcing member having a pair of horizontal portions extending at right angles ,to each other and a verti cal portion which iscurved to conform to the body curvature and engages and is securedto a front vertical edge of. said panel, a-body sill, anda cross' member, each connected' to one of said horizontal portions.

6. In a sheet metal body structure for automobiles, a tonneau panel curved to form the sides and back of arear seat, a pair of reinforcing members secured to the lower forward portions 0f the tonneau panel, and a pair of body sills, one at each side of the body, each sill having its rear end connected to one of said reinforcing members.

7. In a sheet .metal body structure for automobiles, a tonneau paiiel curved to form the sides and back of a rear seat, a pair of reinforcing members secured to the lower forward portions of the tonneau panel a cross member connecting said reinforcing members, and a pair of body sills, one at each side of the body, each body sill having its rear end connected to one of said reinforcing members.

S. In a sheet metal body structure foi automobiles, a tonneau panel curved to form the sidesand back of a rear seat, and a pair of body sills extending longitudinally of the body, one at each side thereof, the rear ends of said body sills terminating at and connected to the lower forward portions of the tonneau panel.

i). In a sheet steel structure for automo# bile bodies, a sheet steel seat panel shaped to conform to the contour and outline of the front seat, the front vertical edgesof Asaid panel being, respectively,l `bent intofA chan,- ncl formation to form a door po'ststructure.

10. In a sheet steel structure for automon bile bodies, a sheetv steel seat panel shaped to confrnnrv to the contour'and outline of thev front seat, the front vertical edges of said panel being, respectively, bent into channel formation to form a door post structure, and door hinge supporting members housed within and'forming a brace for said channel post.

ll. In a sheet steel'structure for automobile bodies, a sheet steel panel shaped to eonform to the contour and-outline of the front seat, said panel having depressions formed therein, in the seat back portion thereof adapted to stillen the same and to receive and position, robe rail supports.

l2. In a sheet steel structure for automobile bodies, a sheet steel panel shaped to conform to the contour and outline of the body, in combination with a longitudinally extending frame sill member, the lower edge of said panel being bent inwardly beneath and upwardly again-st said sill member, and terminating in an inturned flange, and athe side thereof, in com ination with a I border strip for said door opening, said strip extending along a vertical side and bottom of saidopeni'n said border strip being formed with a ownwardly depressed inner edge to form a supporting shoulder, and a floor panel supported at its edge upon said against said b order strip,

14. In a sheet steel structure for' automobile bodies,v a, sheet steel panel shaped te conform to the contour andoutline of the body, said -pa'nel having an openingin the side thereof to form a doorway, the edges of said panel bordering said opening being turned inwardly, and a border strip for said opening, said border strip secured to said inturned flanges, said border strip having an inwardly extending portion atl the threshold portion of the doorway, and a floor panel supported on said inwardly extending portion. Y

15. In a sheet steel structure' for automobile bodies, a sheet steel panel shaped to conform to the contour and outline of the cowl, in combination with auxiliary stampings mounted upon and secured to lthe inner side walls of said panel, and having inclined upper edges to form a support for the ends of the toe board.

16. In a sheet steel structure for automobile bodies, a sheet steel panel shaped to con' form to theicontour and outline of the cowl, in combination with auxiliary stampings having angle-,shaped longitudinally-extending portion/i and inclined upper edges, saidv auxiliary sfarnpings being rigidly secured directly to the interior surfaces-of the side walls of said panel. v v

17. In a sheet steel structure for automobile bodies, a sheet steel panel shaped to conform to the contour and outline of the cowl, channel shaped' members secured to the rear shoulder the flooring Iabutting at its edge ,vertical edges of said panel to form door posts, brackets secured to said door posts, and windshield stanchions carried by said brackets, said brackets forming the sole sup port for said stanchions.

18, In a sheet steel structure for automobile bodies, a sheet steel panel shaped to-conform to the'contour and outline of the cowl, channel shaped members secured tothe rear vertical edges of said panel to form posts, brackets secured to said posts, windshield stanchions mounted in said brackets, and an instrument panel supported at itsl upper edge upon said stanchions and connected at its lower edge to said posts.

19. In an automobile body structure, a

portions o ibo cow? #nomi-o, 'espeotivey, o icinforco and brace fthe a'ttei, said bace also forming o, windshiei suppoi'o. v

2G. n an nuoniooiie body, o. cowi struc- 'in'e inciuing; a cowl pand, a transverse panel secured to the forward odgcs 'of said cow] 'panel and reinforcing inembcis secured 'to the 2'ea1'- edges of Suid cowi panel iii coinbimiion with o brace at @zich side of in@ cowi siiucuio said biacos connected., at ihoi oiwaid ends, to'saiid ftmnsvei'so panc and., at iioii reap ends, to said icnfdcing memie? braces 'being provided wiah moans' for :ieceivng ami supi porzing; iii@ windsiii ofanciiions,

2. in a. snoei, s i si'uoiuio 'foi' cumino hilo bodies, Aa body panel shape io ho Monofoon bination with a border Strip for tho door opening, said strip extending along a sico and bottoni said opening, andhaving its y inner lower edge bent `downwardy and thence inwardly io forma supporting shouf dared iedge :india iooi panel supported at its odge upon said ledge.

22. In o mooi' vehiclegwhe combination with the pilar and the dash, of a supporting bracket rigidly conneood to the dash and io the piliai and having a socket member 'to rocc'ive a part of the Windshield.

in testimony whereof have hereunto sot my hand on this 23rd day of October, A. D.

`Josnpn LEDWINK. 

